Dutch men No. 18 in national wrestling poll

PELLA – The Central College men’s wrestling team made its season debut in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III dual team rankings at No. 18 Tuesday.

Individually, Pierre Baldwin (junior, Carol Stream, Ill., West Chicago HS) is Central’s top-ranked wrestler, coming in at No. 5 at 141 pounds. Duncan Delzell (fifth year, Burlington) stayed No. 13 at 149 pounds and Sam West (junior, Burlington, Notre Dame HS) debuted at No. 14 at 184 pounds.

Central was not included in the tournament team rankings top 25. Wartburg College is No. 1 in both versions of Division III’s top wrestling teams.

Baldwin is 9-1 on the season including a 2-0 mark in American Rivers Conference matches. Delzell’s 6-3 record includes a first-period fall over the No. 14 ranked wrestler during the Augsburg Invitational. West is 7-2 with both losses coming to opponents ranked higher than him.

Seven more Central wrestlers were featured in the regional rankings at their weight classes. David Vukobratovich (junior, Homer Glen, Ill., Lockport Township HS) is No. 8 at 125 pounds, Carter West (freshman, Burlington, Notre Dame HS) is No. 4 at 133 pounds, Carter Martinson (sophomore, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) is No. 4 at 157 pounds, Carson Martinson (sophomore, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) is No. 5 at 165 pounds, Jason Hermann (senior, Stockton, Ill.) is No. 8 at 174 pounds, Austin Roos (senior, Atkins, Benton HS) is No. 5 at 197 pounds and Kyler Hall (sophomore, Boone, Ames HS) is No. 8 at 285 pounds.

The Dutch will wrestle at the NWCA National Duals on Friday in a 10 a.m. match.